Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Google Pixel Fold announced with eye-watering price tag - as new budget phone and tablet also unveiled

Google Pixel Fold announced with eye-watering price tag - as new budget phone and tablet also unveiled

Google's Pixel Fold is the company's first foray into foldable smartphones, and will compete against Samsung's Galaxy Fold range. The new handset was announced at their developer conference Google I/O, alongside a more budget-conscious Pixel 7a and new Pixel Tablet.

Google has announced its first folding smartphone, with a market-leading starting price of £1,749.

That puts the Pixel Fold well ahead of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, the world's most expensive foldable handset, which comes in at £1,649.

Like its competitor, Google's effort has a familiar smartphone form factor when closed but opens up into more of a tablet design with a 7.6-inch screen.

Google said the Pixel Fold would be the thinnest foldable available when it launches next month, with pre-orders beginning today following its announcement at the company's I/O event in California.

The tech giant said many components from its existing flagship, the Pixel 7 Pro, were redesigned to fit into the new device's slim design, held together with "the most durable hinge out there".

It will certainly be hoping to perform better than Samsung's first attempt at a foldable phone in 2019, which saw its release delayed after multiple reviewers managed to break it.

Like other foldables, apps operate normally on the front screen when the device is shut, are optimised for the bigger real estate when open, and can be used side-by-side; while the camera can be used hands-free in tabletop mode.

Perhaps the most innovative feature of the device won't actually make the June launch date, instead rolling out alongside the next major update to Google's Android operating system later this year.

Leveraging the firm's powerful language translation tools, an "interpreter mode" will use the phone's inner and outer screens simultaneously to translate live conversations - so that both people can see what the other is saying in their respective language.

At the other end of the affordability scale…

The Pixel Fold was one of three major devices unveiled at Google I/O.

Like last year's successful Pixel 6a and similar previous releases, the Pixel 7a takes many of the same specs as Google's top phone from the previous year and houses them in a cheaper body with a price to match.

Google's Pixel 7a is more expensive than last year's 'budget' option


The Pixel 7a costs £449, compared to £599 for the standard Pixel 7 and £849 for the Pixel 7 Pro.

However, that's a smaller saving compared to last year's budget option, with the 6a having launched at £399.

For £499, you get a slightly smaller screen than the Pixel 7 (6.1 inches vs 6.3), and not quite such a premium build (more plastic, less glass), but the same Tensor G2 processor and memory for speedy performance.

The battery is a smidge larger than the standard model, while the cameras come in at 64 megapixels for the main sensor and 13 for the ultrawide.


A true rival to the iPad?


While the smartphone market has always been fiercely contested, Android tablets have struggled to make a major impact against Apple's iPad.

Google hopes to make the predictably named Pixel Tablet stand out by bundling it with a dock, turning it from a portable personal device into one for the home - a similar concept to Nintendo's Switch games console.

Pixel Tablet comes with a dock designed for home use.


When placed in the dock, the tablet is charged and gains more powerful speakers - turning it into a more effective music player for living rooms.

It also turns it into a dedicated smart home device for turning on lights or viewing doorbell cameras, and has a Chromecast built in for beaming videos, music, and photos from another device to its 11-inch screen.

Like the Pixel Fold and 7a, the tablet is powered by a Tensor G2 processor.

It releases on 20 June, priced £599 - and is not available without the dock.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
×